Since 1899, Saucony has been making shoes for men, women, and kids. The company boasts excellent customer support for its athletic, and running shoes, by delivering comfort in shoes that millions use worldwide. Saucony empowers the spirit of runners with great comfortable runs and strides in every community worldwide.
In this article, we’re going to compare Saucony Guide vs. Saucony to help determine the difference between the two so you can make an informed decision. These are Saucony’s best-selling shoes that are often debated but actually reviewed a lot less.
Table of Contents
Saucony Guide Vs Hurricane
Saucony Guide vs. Hurricane: Overpronation Control
The Hurricane series usually corrects Overpronation pretty well. So if you have Overpronation issues, you might want to consider this shoe. Most people, however, seem to like Hurricane 23 over other models in the line even though it offers just about the same amount of overpronation control.
With the Saucony Guide, meanwhile, the amount of overpronation control you get is actually better than the Hurricane. The Guide 13 model in particular has a midsole that is a bit firmer than the Hurricane and will pop your foot back quicker compared to the Hurricane. That means your heel will have time to sink into the midsole and roll inward too much.
Saucony Guide vs. Hurricane: Performance
Both the Hurricane and the Saucony Guide are stability shoes ideal for overpronators as well as neutral runners who tend to roll inward during long runs. While most stability shoes are usually excessively stiff, the Guide and the Hurricane are very comfortable to run in and you’ll hardly go wrong with either one of them. Neither of them will make you feel like you’re being constrained or too rigid through the foot strike.
Both the Saucony Guide and the Hurricane are suitable for long runs, especially for the training block. They’re great options for those dealing with overpronation as they provide stability without being crazy stiff. That said, the Saucony Guide is a little stiffer in comparison to the Hurricane, but we’ll get to that later in the article.
Saucony Guide vs. Hurricane: Midsole
The Guide and the Hurricane are developed with PWRRUN foam, which is usually TPU mixed with some EVA. The result is a midsole that doesn’t get mushy when you’re running in hot weather or firm out on colder days. The Hurricane, in particular features PWRRUN+ (a more premium foam compared to the regular PWRRUN employed in the Guide). Nonetheless, the PWRRUN and PWRRUN+ are lighter, more efficient, and more durable than EVERUN.
So overall, the Guide comes with PWRRUN foam which is notably springy and provides a very soft plush experience. However, the midsole set up in the Guide delivers a little bit firmer ride compared to that of Hurricane.
Saucony Guide vs. Hurricane: Stability
We’d categorize the Hurricane and the Guide as the Mild-to-moderate stability shoes but largely towards the mild. The midsole of the Hurricane plays a role when it comes to stability while the Saucony features a curved midsole that runs around the foot.
The Guide employs their newer support system running through the outsole. This TPU posting delivers the much-needed support on the inside. The feature is not totally noticeable but it does a great job for an energized snapback.
Similar to the Saucony Guide, the medial side of the Hurricane features a solid TPU guidance frame, which is exactly where the stability comes into practice as the shoes prevent you from overpronating through the foot strike.
Saucony Guide vs. Hurricane: Energy Return
Nowadays, shoes have to be bouncy and super springy, and perhaps that’s why people mention energy returns in running shoes. While this sometimes can mean that the shoe is so soft that it compromises its integrity, the Guide and the Hurricane are well on the opposite side of the spectrum.
The Guide comes with a TPU core that’s meant to be more bouncy but still has EVA outside, which is lighter and firmer. That means you’ll have a firm and nice responsive feeling during performances. In fact, the Saucony Guide is a great shoe if you want a long but fast run.
On the flip side, some people tend to think the Guide is slightly too hard or too firm so they need something more substantial to run in. Luckily, that’s where the Hurricane comes into play.
The Hurricane is known to be soft but still lively. So if you like that, then we suggest checking this out. Meanwhile, if you want some bit of lighter stability, a regular trainer, or something with a firmer underfoot, then you won’t go wrong with the Saucony Guide.
Saucony Guide vs. Hurricane: Upper
Saucony Guide features Vinyl overlays around the midfoot that make the uppers more secure. The overlays are designed to give the shoe more structure and hold your foot better above the instep area. The upper of the Hurricane, meanwhile, features engineered mesh in certain parts of the upper that gives the shoes some more structure. The Hurricane also has suede/vinyl overlays that give the shoe more structure and more stability.
Overall, the uppers of both the Saucony Guide and the Hurricane may not work for everyone, but if you’re someone who loves comfy couch fit, then these iterations are really good for you.
Saucony Guide vs. Hurricane: Sizing
Both the Saucony Guide and Hurricane run true to size and you can go with your normal size with no issues.
The toe boxes have good width and do not feel too narrow or too wide. Both models have super plush, well-padded heel collars and tongues. The amount of padding offered by the Guide and Hurricane actually meant to hug your heels, though this feature might not work when it’s really hot.
But if you don’t get bothered by the shoes getting super warm in hot temperatures, you’re bound to appreciate the Saucony Guide and Hurricane even more. Also, for those who have narrow feet and need to cinch down the laces quite often, the thicker tongue comes in handy so you don’t get any pain on top of the foot or laces digging into your feet during runs.
The Outsole
Coming down to the outsole, the Saucony Guide uses a combination of crystallized rubber in the midsole of the outsole and some XT-900 rubber on the outside of the heel and the toe. The newly re-engineered Hurricane has done away with the crystallized rubber and utilizes XT-900 throughout the outsole.
It’s great to mention that the XT-900 is one of Saucony’s old rubber styles. The outsole is definitely designed to be more durable, in comparison to regular rubber in the market. Plus, it has a tacky feel, which helps the shoe to grip a little bit better. On the flip side, while this amount of rubber helps with durability, it adds to the overall weight of the shoe, and some people might not like that.
The Bottom Line
All things considered, you can’t go wrong in both shoes. Both the Saucony Guide and the Hurricane offers are a nice fit and are super fun to run in. The Guide, in particular, is a little on the firmer side with quite a snappy agile ride. Meanwhile, if you want more cushioning, you might want to check out the Hurricane instead.